A wild early-morning police chase that began with two men in an SUV firing on pursuing officers ended several hours later with a suspect dead, another arrested, and a SWAT officer with a gunshot wound to the leg, Los Angeles authorities said Monday.

Police were sifting through at least three crime scenes near downtown and in South Los Angeles, including one that prompted the shutdown of several lanes of the 110 Freeway during rush hour, Deputy Police Chief Bob Green said.

The drama began around 2:20 a.m., when officers started chasing a gray SUV that was driving recklessly south of downtown, Green said.

Two people inside the SUV started firing shots at the officers, Green said. After a chase on the 110 Freeway and on surface streets, the SUV came to a stop and two suspects ran off.

Patrol and SWAT officers, K-9 units and two helicopters searched for the men, police said.

At about 5 a.m. Green told reporters that one suspect had been discovered hiding in a dumpster. He was arrested after SWAT officers tossed a flash-bang grenade inside the trash bin.

A short time later, more gunfire broke out when the second suspect engaged officers with a rifle.

One SWAT officer was struck and suffered a "significant leg wound," Green said. The wounded officer, a 22-year veteran, was rushed to a hospital to undergo surgery for an injury to a calf muscle, according to Officer Liliana Preciado.

The second suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

At least two weapons were recovered, officials said.

The California Highway Patrol shut down four lanes of the northbound Harbor Freeway and diverted traffic to the carpool lanes for a few hours as officers searched for shell casings, Green said.